Group favourites go head-to-head in semi repeats
De La Salle who defeated Ferrybank in their SHC Round 1 match played at Azzurri Walsh Park. They'll face Ballygunner this weekend in round two. Photo: Maurice Hennebry
Both sides go into this clash off the back of opening round defeats at the hands of Ballygunner and Abbeyside Ballinacourty respectively. Passage were plucky against the All-Ireland champions and gave a good account of themselves up to the point of Dale Cullinane’s dismissal, while Clonea’s forwards impressed on opening night shooting 4-14 - though the concession of 2-25 will be a cause for concern.
Mark Fitzgerald, Tom Carey, Callum O’Neill and Pa Walsh impressed for Passage last time out while Sean Kelly was also bright. James and Billy Power as always led the Clonea challenge while young Thomas Skehan also impressed.
Despite both consistently maintaining senior status, this is somehow the first championship meeting of these clubs since 2021. A tight one which could go either way, but a narrow nod to Passage to pick up the points at Azzurri Walsh Park.
Abbeyside Ballinacourty took a long time to get off the mark in 2025 but wasted little time this year with an impressive performance to see off Clonea, but Ferrybank will be no pushovers as they showed with their steely display against De La Salle.
Many expected Paul Martin’s men to suffer a significant defeat but Ferrybank were competitive throughout and caused the Gracedieu outfit plenty of bother before being seen off by five down the home straight.
Abbeyside on the other hand looked like the force of old on Friday and that was largely thanks to the potent trio of Charlie Treen, Michael Kiely and Neil Montgomery - a handful for any opposition defence.
Just three points separated these two when they met last year, and it will be another interesting encounter based off the evidence of week one. Abbeyside’s superior forwards should secure them two wins on the spin.
Two young sides face off in this one in what is a game that both sides will inevitably have targeted when looking at the fixture list. Dungarvan were beaten by ten at the hands of Fourmilewater, but they were well in that game up until the final ten minutes and far more impressive than was previously expected.
Ballygunner B on the other hand were always going to be up against it facing a physical and efficient outfit of Roanmore’s calibre, but that first experience of senior hurling will have done the world of good for many of their panel despite the 12-point loss.
Jack Lacey held Sean Walsh scoreless last weekend and will be tasked with marking Ballygunner B’s key men. Johnny Burke shot 1-4 from play and looked sharp throughout, while more minutes will also help bring out the best in Michael Kiely. For Ballygunner ‘B’, Tom Spain and Gavin Corbett will form the scoring threat in chief while Billy O’Keeffe’s experience will also need drawing upon.
A potential game of the weekend with a lot riding on this result for Dungarvan, the narrowest of nods to the Old Boro to come good and sneak it.
A rivalry that doesn’t need any billing - this one very much speaks for itself. Local bragging rights, the ambition of topping the group, revenge for last year’s semi-final - there will be a lot of different subplots to this affair.
Roanmore were efficient and clinical throughout against Ballygunner ‘B’ and look one of the form sides on early evidence, but the manner of Mount Sion’s victory against Lismore will also instil them with real confidence ahead of this local derby.
Sean Burke starred for the Sky Blues on the last day while Sean Roche, Rory Furlong and Ethan Flynn provide a real goal threat. As for Sion, Jamie Meaney’s second half display against Lismore was immense while Jamie Gleeson and Stephen Roche also caught the eye.
There is rarely more than a solitary score between these two. I would expect the same case again this time out, but will side with Roanmore to exact revenge on their rivals for last year’s semi-final defeat.
Ballygunner looked like exactly what they are in the second half against Passage last time out - All-Ireland champions.
They hit 20 second half points and played some beautiful stuff, inspired by some Mark Hartley magic and some moments of real quality from Kevin Mahony, Peter Hogan and of course Dessie Hutchinson.
De La Salle gave them their biggest scare en route to that All Ireland title last year and will go into this one with confidence that they can catch the champions cold should everything click. They weren’t their brilliant best against Ferrybank, but they got the job done, hit 1-19 and made a winning start. Jack Fagan was outstanding, but their backs will have to be 11 out of 10 if they want to end Ballygunner’s 67-game unbeaten streak.
It mightn’t be as smooth sailing as always for the Gunners, but how could you side against them? Ballygunner to go 2 from 2 and 68 unbeaten in Waterford.
The concluding game of the weekend in Cappoquin is also a hard clash to call. Lismore looked like they had the beating of Mount Sion last week before Jamie Meaney turned the tide, while Fourmilewater led by talisman Jamie Barron deservedly dispatched of Dungarvan with ten to spare.
Despite Sean Walsh being held scoreless, they still hit 1-26 and had a great spread of scorers. Aaron Ryan was deadly accurate from placed balls and Liam O’Brien also caught the eye on his senior debut for the club. Jack Prendergast was his brilliant best for Lismore while Ben O’Sullivan and Ben Cummins also hold the potential to cause Fourmilewater problems.
Lismore were 1-19 to 0-21 victors when these sides met at the same venue last year. Fourmilewater will know victory will almost already assure them of a quarter-final berth, while two defeats in a row would leave Lismore somewhat more up against it in their ambition for same. If we see a draw this weekend, it will likely be here - Fourmilewater by the minimum.
